Insole rib attaching machines



June 20, 1967 F, R. sPEaGHT INSOLE RIB ATTACHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. '7, 1965 far Francis R'pez'g/zl By his Azzor June 20, W67 F. Fa. sPEsGHT INSOLE' RIB ATTACHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. '7, 1965 United States Patent 3,325,838 I INSOLE RIB ATTACK-ENG MACHINES Francis R. Speight, Dedham, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, Ni, and Boston, Mass., a corporation of New .lersey Filed Dec. '7, 1965, Ser. No. 512,044 tllaims. ((35. 12-20) This invention relates to machines for attaching strips to work pieces and is directed more particularly to a machine for attaching ribbed strips to insoles to form sewing ribs thereon.

The invention is illustrated herein as embodied in an insole rib attaching machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,030,644 granted Apr. 24, 1962, upon an application filed in the names of S. P. Lotarski and F. R. Speight.

In the manufacture of welt shoes, the insole is provided around its margin with an upstanding rib to which the shoe upper and welt are stitched prior to the attachment of the outsole to the welt. For attaching prefabricated ribs to insoles, machines such as those mentioned above have been developed. Insole rib attaching maclt'nes are generally provided with a fiat-topped table for supporting an insole and a guide through which a ribbed strip to be applied to the insole is passed, the strip guide carrying a pair of fingers for feeding the strip into engagement with the insole, and also a feed foot for advancing the insole and the attached rib. The table, which is located directly under the strip guide, is formed with a transverse opening for the reception of a freely rotatable roll which projects above the top of the table to engage the undersurface of the insole.

Until recently, a given insole was generally of reasonably uniform thickness throughout its length. Thus, having once positioned the table and roll for a particular thickness of insole, the operator had no cause to change such positions until it was desired to accommodate another set of insoles having a different thickness. If the difference was relatively small, a repositioning of the table was usually not necessary, the table being generally designed to give somewhat and thereby able to accommodate a range of insole thicknesses.

Of late, a practice has developed involving the use of wedge-shaped insoles. Typically, these insoles are relatively thin at the toe, and at the heel end have a thickness several times that at the toe. Often the difference in thickness between the toe and heel is such that no one table position setting can be made which will accommodate both extremes.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an insole rib attaching machine of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents having means for introducing a change in the setting of the position of the table during the insole rib attaching operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a table position adjustment which will not require further movements of the operator beyond what is already required.

With these objects in view and in accordance with a feature of the invention, there is provided in an insole rib attaching machine means responsive to the normal operation of the edge gauge control hand lever for moving the table and its associated roll a present distance to permit continuous rib application to the insole.

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insole attaching machine including apparatus embodying the invention,

this view showing an insole in attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of an edge gauge and its operating means;

FIG. 3 is a detailed elevational view, partly in section, showing another portion of the apparatus embodying the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the fluid pressure operating system and also showing various operating elements diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawings, the machine is provided with a base 2, on the top of which is bolted a head 4 (FIG. 1) on which are mounted the various operating instrumentalities of the machine, including conventional rib attaching means. In a bracket or casting 6 fixed to the machine there is mounted a vertically movable slide 8, to the upper end of which is secured a table 10 in which is mounted a position for having a rib roll 11 (FIG. 2) arranged to support and assist in feeding an insole I to which a strip S, drawn from a source of supply (not shown), is to be attached. The strip S, which may be precoated with a pressure sensitive cement, is progessively fed into engagement with the margin of the insole and pressed thereagainst by a presser and feed foot (not shown) which also feeds the combined insole and attached strip. The presser and feed foot is secured to the lower end of a lever 12 pivotally mounted on a slide 14 which, through connections fully described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,573,683, issued Nov. 6, 1951, upon an application filed in the name of Frederick E. Bertrand, imparts reciprocating vertical movements to the foot to press the strip against the insole whereby to cause attachment of the strip to the insole. The lever 12 is also pivotally connected to a bracket 16 which, through connections fully described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,933,744, granted Apr. 24, 1960, upon an application filed in the names of S. P. Lotarski and F. R. Speight, imparts reciprocating horizontal movement to the feed foot to feed the strip and insole.

During a strip attaching operation, the insole is guided in its feeding movement along the table 10 by engagement of its edge face with an edge gauge .18 (FIG. 2). The edge gauge 18 is secured by a screw 20 to a member 22 which is in turn secured by a screw 24 to a member 26. Formed in the underside of the member 26 is a groove 28 which is slidingly engaged by a tongue 30 on a slide 32. By means of a screw 34 extending through a slot 36 in the member 26, the position of the member 26 relative to the slide 32 may be varied so as to vary the initial position of the edge gauge with relation to the center of the table for insoles of various sizes. The slide 32 is movable trnasversely of the machine in a slideway 33 provided in the upper, forwardly and rearwardly extending portion of the table supporting slide 8 for movement of the edge gauge forwardly or rearwardly on the table.

On a pin 38 (FIG. 2) extending upwardly from the slide 32 there is pivotally mounted a block 40 which is engaged by the inner or rear bifurcated end of one arm 42 of a two arm lever 44 mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane about a stud 46 mounted in a bracket 48 secured to the bracket 6 in which the table supporting slide 8 is mounted. The forward or outer bifurcated end of the other arm 50 of the lever 44 engages a block 52 mounted on a pin 54 projecting from a lug 55 extending from a head 56 formed on the upper end of a rock shaft 58. The rock shaft 58 is journaled in a sleeve 60. The sleeve 60 is fixed in a bracket 62 secured by a screw 64 to the bracket 48. To the lower end of the shaft 58 is clamped a collar 66 (FIG. 1) to which is connected an edge gauge control hand lever 68 by which the rock shaft 58 may be turned to move the edge gauge 18 forwardly or rearwardly of the table. The edge gauge assembly is substantially similar in its general organization and operation to that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,030,644, granted Apr. 24, 1962, upon an application filed in the names of S. P. Lotarski and F. R. Speight, to which reference may be made for a more detailed description.

Conventional means is provided for adjusting the heightwise position of the table for different thicknesses of insoles, and also for lowering the table for receiving an insole to be operated upon. To this end, referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that a link 70 is at one end pivotally attached to the slide member 8 and at the other end pivotally attached to another link 72.v The link 70 is spring biased by a coil spring 74 anchored to the head 4 of the frame of the machine. The link 72 is pivotally mounted on a lug 76 which is an extension of a piston 7 8 disposed in a cylinder 80. The link 72 has an arm 82 to which there is pivotally attached another link 84 having a slot 86. Pivotally mounted on the base 2 is a hub 88 having a pin 90 mounted thereon in an eccentric manner and disposed within the slot 86 of the link 84. Extending radially from the hub 88 is an arm 92 to the free end of which is pivotally secured one end of a rod 94. The other end of the rod 94 is attached to a treadle (not shown) which is engageable by an operators foot.

At the lower end of the cylinder 80 as seen in FIG. 1, there is disposed a table height setting means known in the prior art. The height setting means includes a disc 96 which is rotatable and which is interconnected by rack and pinion means with the piston 78 so that rotation of the disc 96 causes vertical movement of the piston 78 in the cylinder 80. A headed set screw 98 is operable to hold the piston 78 in the heightwise position desired.

When it is desired to alter the heightwise position of the table so that it will be in a position to accept an insole of a thickness different from that of the insole previously operated upon, the operator merely loosens the set screw 98 and rotates the disc 96. For convenience and ease of setting, the disc 96 is usually provided with numbered marks which are aligned with an index mark etched on an arm 100 extending from the cylinder 80'. Rotation of the disc 96 causes, through a rack and pinion arrangement (not shown), heightwise movement of the piston 78. If, for example, the piston 78 moves downwardly, it carries with it the lug 76. Downward movement of the lug 76 causes downward movement of the links 72 and 70, which in turn causes downward movement of the slide member 8 and the table 10. Thus, the table is spaced a greater distance from the rib attaching instrumentalities above the table and the machine is in order for the acceptance of thicker insoles. In like manner the distance between the table and the rib applying means above the table may be diminished to ready the machine for operation upon insoles of lesser thickness.

When the treadle (not shown) connected to the rod 94 is depressed, the hub 88 rotates so that the pin 90 causes downward movement of the link 84 which causes the link 72 to pivot clockwise as seen in FIG. 1. Clockwise movement of the link 72 causes downward movement of the link 70, the slide member 8, and the table 10. This movement is to enable an operator to place an insole in operating position. Once the insole is in place on the table the treadle is released and the spring 74 urges the lower end of the link 70 in a clockwise direction whereby to pivot the link 72 counterclockwise to return the link 70, slide 8 and table 10 to the initial position.

The edge gauge control lever 68 is pivotally mounted on the bracket member 62. Pivotal movement of the lever 68 in a horizontal plane causes rotation of the shaft 58 and also rotation of the head 56 about the axis of the shaft 58 (FIG. 3). Mounted on the head 56 are two spring biased adjustable screws 102, 104. Attached to the bracket 62 is an L-shaped stop member 106. On one end of the stop member 106 there is pivotally disposed a spring biased bifurcated lever 108. One end of the lever 108 is engageable by the screw 104, while the bigurcated ends of the lever carry lugs 110, 112 for engagement with switches now to be described. Mounted on the head 4 of the machine are two switches 114, 116 (FIG. 1) having plungers 118, 120 respectively, carrying rollers 122, 124. It will be seen by again referring to FIG. 3, that when the lever 68 is moved in a counterclockwise direction the screw 104 engages the lever 108 and causes it to move against spring pressure so that the lugs 110, 112 engage the rollers 12.2, 124 to actuate the switches 114,116.

The switch 116 is for the purpose of actuating rib cutting means as described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,933,744, issued Apr. 26, 1960, in the names of S. P. Lotarski and F. R. Speight.

The switch 114, when actuated by the lever 108, operates to direct a pressurized fluid to a cylinder 126 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 4) having a piston rod 128. Pivotally connected to the free end of the piston rod 128 is one end of a link 130, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a pin 132 mounted on the disc 96 (FIG. 3). Thus, move ment of the hand lever 68 in a counterclockwise direction causes the piston rod 128 to be extended from the cylinder 126 which in turn causes the disc 96 to rotate clockwise a portion of a revolution. As discussed above, rotation of the disc 96 causes heightwise movement of the slide 8 and the table 10. Accordingly, heightwise adjustment of the table may be introduced during the rib attaching cycle.

In operation, the machine operator positions the table 10 with respect to the operating instrumentalities over the table by turning the disc 96 to the desired setting. The link 130 is then connected to the pin 132 extending from the disc 96. The set screw 98 is not tightened when it is desired to have the table moved heightwise during the rib attaching operation. By depressing a treadle (not shown) connected to the rod 94, the operator lowers the table to permit entry of an insole I between the table and the members above the table. Release of the treadle by the operator permits the table to return to its preset height.

After the height setting has been entered by use of the disc 96 and the insole has been placed in position next to the edge gauge 18, the rib attaching operation is commenced. During the operation of the machine, the operator guides the insole along with one-hand and operates the edge gauge control lever 68 with the other hand.

At the beginning of a strip attaching operation the edge gauge 18 is in its extreme rearward position. In that position of the gauge the insole I willbe so located on the table 10 relative to the presser and feed foot 14 that the strip S will be attached to the insole at the heel breast line at the inside margin of the insole at some distance inward from the insole edge. When the operation reaches the ball portion of the insole the operator usually grasps the hand lever 68 and swings it in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, to move the edge gauge 18 forward on the table 10 to shift the insole laterally so as to cause the strip to be attached at or close to the insole edge along the ball portion of the insole. When the lever 68 is moved in the counterclockwise direction, the screw 104 engages the lever 108 which pivots on the member 106 to depress the plunger 118 of the switch 114.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that closing of the switch 114 sends pressurized fluid from a main line L to shift a four-way valve V (not shown except diagrammatically in FIG. 4) against spring pressure. Shifting of the valve V exhausts the rod end of the cylinder 126' and pressurizes the head end of the cylinder, to extend the piston rod 128. Extension of the rod 128 causes rotation of the disc 96 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, which causes upward movement of the piston 78 and consequently the table 10. If it is preferred to space the rib strip a slight distance from the insole edge around the toe portion, when the attaching operation reaches the toe, the operator may move the hand lever slightly in a clockwise direction to move the edge gauge rearward of the table into a position in which the strip will be attached at a slight distance from the insole edge around the toe portion of the insole. The slight clockwise movement of the hand lever 68 to accommodate the toe of the sole will not be suflicient to release the switch 114, when the adjustable screw 104 is correctly set. After rounding the toe the operator turns the lever 68 back slightly in a counterclockwise direction to move the edge gauge to a position in which the strip will once more be attached at or close to the insole edge along the outside ball portion. When the operation reaches the outside shank area the operator turns the hand lever in a clockwise direction back to its starting position to retract the edge gauge to its starting position so as to cause the strip to be attached to the outside shank portion at a distance substantially corresponding to the distance at which the strip has been attached along the inside shank portion. This cockwise movement of the lever 68, stopped by the engagement of the screw 102 with the stop member 106, releases the lever 108 which, under spring pressure, releases the plunger 118 of the switch 114. Opening of the switch 114 permits the shifting of the valve V under spring pressure to the position shown in FIG. 5 which sends air to the rod end of the cylinder 126 and exhausts the head end, causing the piston rod 128 to be drawn into the cylinder 126, which rotates the disc 96 in a counterclockwise direction which in turn causes a lowering of the table. In preparing the insole for sewed seat work the rib attaching portion is continued around the heel portion of the insole and terminated at the same point at which the operation began.

Thus, it will be seen that in the machine embodying the present invention, the hand lever 68 when moved to a positio so as to orient the edge gauge for rib attaching in the shank and heel areas, additionally causes movement of the table sufiicient to permit the machine to accommodate an insole having a relatively thick shank and heel portion. In like manner, when the lever 68 is moved so as to position the edge gauge for operation around the ball and toe areas of the insole it causes movement of the table suflicient to enable the machine to accommodate the relatively thin ball and toe portions of a wedge-shaped insole.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An insole rib attaching machine comprising means for supporting an insole, means for attaching a rib to said insole, a gauge adjacent said insole supporting means for positioning an insole disposed on said supporting means, means for varying the position of said gauge relative to said insole supporting means, and means responsive to movement of said gauge positioning means to vary the position of said insole supporting means relative to said rib attaching means.

2. An insole rib attaching machine comprising a frame, a table for supporting an insole, said table being movable relative to said frame, means for attaching a rib to said insole, a gauge adjacent said table and being movable in a plane parallel to the plane of said table toward and away from said table, means for moving said gauge, and means responsive to the movement of said gauge moving means to move said table.

3. An insole rib attaching machine comprising a frame, a table connected to said frame, means for locating said table heightwise of said frame, means for automatically actuating said height locating means, means connected to said frame for attaching a rib to said insole, a gauge adjacent said table, and means for varying the position of said gauge relative to said table, said automatic actuator being responsive to the movement of said gauge positioning means to actuate said table locator means, whereby to move said table heightwise relative to said rib attaching means.

4. An insole rib attaching machine comprising a frame, a table mounted on said frame for supporting an insole, a rib attaching means mounted on said frame for attaching a rib to said insole, and gauge means attached to said frame and disposed heightwise between said rib attaching means and said table for positioning an insole disposed on said supporting means, a gauge positioning means for moving said gauge relative to said table, and means responsive to the operation of said gauge positioning means for moving said table heightwise relative to said rib attaching means.

5. An insole rib attaching machine comprising a frame, a table connected to said frame for supporting an insole, rib attaching means connected to said frame and cooperative with said table to attach a rib to an insole held therebetween, gauge means for positioning said insole on said table during the rib attaching operation, means for operating said gauge means, disc means connected to said frame and rotatable for selectively positioning said table relative to said rib attaching means, and means connected to said disc and responsive to the operation of said gauge control means to rotate said disc whereby to move said table relative to said rib attaching means during the rib attaching operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,903,723 9/1959 Hanson et al. 12-20 2,932,834 4/ 1960 Ridderstrom l220 3,030,644- 4/ 1962 Lolarski et al. 1220 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN INSOLE RIB ATTACHING MACHINE COMPRISING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AN INSOLE, MEANS FOR ATTACHING A RIB TO SAID INSOLE, A GAUGE ADJACENT SAID INSOLE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR POSITIONING AN INSOLE DISPOSED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS FOR VARYING THE POSITION OF SAID GAUGE RELATIVE TO SAID INSOLE SUPPORTING MEANS, AND MEANS RE- 